Pyrimidine analogs of the pyridinylimidazole class of CSBP/p38 kinase inhibitors were prepared in an effort to reduce the potent inhibition of hepatic cytochrome P450 observed for the pyridinyl compounds. The substitution of pyrimidin-4-yl, 2-methoxypyrimidin-4-yl, or 2- methylaminopyrimidin-4-yl for pyridin-4-yl effectively dissociates CSBP/p38 kinase from P450 inhibition for this series and furthermore achieves an increase in oral activity.